Single-button electric switch



Dec.' 9, 1930. 1 H. HARLow 1,784,437

SINGLE BUTTON ELECTRIC swIToH Filed oct. 1, 1927 Patented Dec. 9, 1930 orten star s Param ortica LEE H. EARL-OW, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSGNOR OFNE-HALZE TO GROVER C. PIPER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA I Y SINGLE-BUTTGN ELECTRIC SEVITCH A Application filed ctooer 1, 1927.

My invention applies to a single button type of switch in which an inward movement of the button caused by pressing on the head makes a connection for one circuit, and the next pressure breaks the circuit; or iii desired, two circuits may be connected to the switch so that the inward movement of the button makes one circuit and breaks the other kand the next inward movement makes the other circuit and breaks the tlrst circuit, the return movement of the button being automatic, due` to a spring action.

`An object of my invention is the constructionof a single button electric switch by which a switch stem or rod is slidable longitudinally and carries a kdouble acting `dog or latch which engages with the pivoted plate on a lined structure, this being arranged so that in one inward movement ot the stem, the dog engages the plate. As the dog is pivotally mounted on the stem it swings the plate downwardly, Jforming engagement with a pair of contacts, or' else breaking apreviously made contact. vThe plate is provided with a slot or opening through which the dog or latch operates and on the tilting movement of the plate,'the dog passes through the slot.y Then on'the upward movement of thek stem the dog is brought to a central position by means ot a stop plate.

Another feature of my invention is connecting the tilting plate to the trame by a toggle type of spring, this spring having an angular adjustment so that the plate may be retained in its tilted position by shitting the fulcrum point of the spring. T he switch may be arranged to operate only in one direction, thus making an immediate make and break, on pressing and releasing ot the button. l f

Another objectof my invention is the con nection of the indicating pointer operating with the tilting plate to show whether the switch is on or oit'.

In constructing a switch according to my invention' I have a suitable switch box with a metal frame therein. In this trame I have a tilting plate pivotally mounted on trun-v nions or journals. This plate has an elongated slot in the center transverse the axes Serial No. 223,323,

of the journals and through this slot operates the slidable stem of the switch, thisslot in which is located a pivotally mounted dog, this dog being in the form of a thin blade, flat on the lower surface, having a concave arch on the upper surface, with flat surfaces at the ends of the inverted arch to engage a stop plate, and centers the dogon the upward return of the stem.

. The side edges of the dog are so shaped that when the stem isy forced downwardly and the plate is tilted on one inclination, the lower edge of the dog at one end engages the upper part of the tilted plate. This causes the dog to tilt, assuming the same angle as the plate, and, as the dog has a limited pivotal movement, `the plate is forced downwardly and tilted in the other direction. In this action the end of the dog which is tilted downwardly passes through the slot in the plate, and clears this on the upward movement, leaving the plate in its tilted position and with the dog also having the reverse tilt. Then, as above mentioned, on the upwardmovement of the stem, which is caused by a spring action, the dog is righted by the stop plate, its lower edge assuming a horizontal position.

My invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure l is an end elevation of my switch partly broken away.

F ig. 2 is ay horizontal section on the line 2-2 ofFig. l in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a. vertical longitudinal section of the switch on the line 3*-3 ot F ig. l. in the direction of the arrows, showing the dog in the position of engaging the tilting plate on the downward movement of the stem.

Ll! is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 et of F 3 in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the stem in its outermost position and with the dog or latch level.

5 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the manner of actuating my switch by an electro-magnetic control or the like.

The switch comprises an insulating box or housing 11 which is shown as of rectangular vtac'hed thereto in any suitable manner.

construct-ion and having a cover` plate 12 at- 15 Vand afhorizontal ystopfplate 1Gk at the top. square-d or other angu-A The base plate has a lar opening. k17 therethrough and the stop plate, also has an `opening 18Vwhieh may be circular or any other of longitudinal metal plates 19 are connected l across the vertical plates'15 att-hebottom,

- and on these there islan insulating plate 20' and then a lconducting.strip 21, which has i n outwardlybent arms 22with U-:shaped fins 23 'forming a socket fory a knife blade type of i ,switclnashereunder mentioned.V Aninsulatf ifr'igjcover plate 24 ison "secured in position Vby ythe outside of the above mentioned asse1nbly,the whole being bolts or the like. There are four assemblies as above def Vscribed, givingjfour sockets for knife-blade switches two of these,

y however, if desired, ina be dum1niesor they may be all electrical yfconnectedj In order to afford this con-y vstruction I have the conducting plates 21k of Y ing connection with electric wires.

Vof theupper conduct-ing plates 21'isl also prothe bottom set each provided with a conducting 'extension 26 rwhich has thefre'e ends E27Y extendingoutsideof the housing and yallow- Each I vided with an extension 28. These, however,

v lowing connection to electric lead wires.V The" tinted:a in particular in Fig. 3

terminate insidethe box and have conducting bars 29 secured thereto by bolts 30, or the like, .these latter having their free ends 31 extending' outside of the insulating housing and alarranfrement ofthelixed `sockets being illusand the outside shown in. Fi gs. 1 and 2.

yconnections being n 35 1s slida'bly mountedk 1n A Switchr` stern the Lmetal frame and lias'its upper section 36 having a slidingfit in the opening 18 in the stop plate" '16', and its lower end 37 .preferably formedfsquare or of irregular section and sllding in the opening 14, this preventing rotation of the stem.. The button `38 is secured to thesteni and has van insulatingskirt 39slid'ing through an opening 40 in the covery plate 12, thus being insulated therefrom.r vThis stein is provided with a .Y transverse slot 41 .in which, isjinounted a'dog loweredgre 43. concave section in' any Y set'forth. y

'position' of Figr the concavel edge 44 ofthe 42. This dog is a thin plate and `has a flat The upper edge has centra] l 44 forming'an inverted arch withfflat Atips 45 at the ends. The side edges have a concave curve46 with a straightpart 47 adjacent thereto, leading tov the bottoni edge. The dog is mounted on a there issuilicient friction to retain the dog of its various positions, vas hereunder :It Willbe noted that in the tilted dov' envaees with the cornerV 49 of the upper 5 edge 550i` the slot 41, and also when'the stem A y16, centering the suitable shape. A pair 17 in the base plate pintle 48 and is in its outer position, the fiat surface 45 on i thek uppergedge of the dog engages the plate dog inl the yposition shown in Fig.` 4.Y lThe action of the stem in being forced outwardly is due to the spring 51 which engages the base plate 14 and ay ring 52gwhich kis thrust upwardly against the shoulder 53 on the stem. y Y 1 The tilting late 55 may be of any suitable shape but'V is` illustrated asY beingrr rectangular and having 'trun'nio'ns 51 onopposite sides,

which are mounted in iournals 52 on the ver-v Y' tical plates 1 5fof the frame13. This plate basa central. openingv or elongated slot 53 through which the stem 35 passes.4 The tiltying'plate has .anV insulating strip 54 thereon and a conducting strip of metalf55 on the insulating strip, this meta-l terminating in knife-like blades 56 on opposite sides,fthese connection.V

-Rigidly connected to the trunnion 51'; on

one sidethere 1s adependingf arm 57which has a bent endV 58 at'its'lower end,'this` bent Y end engaging in a socketl 59y on ashort rod G0, which is slidable throughV an opening in 'thebraoket63- n' This rod has a shoulder 61 aga-inst `which thrusts the compression spring 62this' latterspring being connected to the bracket y63 su vtends throng la slot 64 vthroughfoney ofthe vrplates15. 1 f f" f l vThis construction allows'fshifting vof the Y Vsupporting bolt, having it either in the plane of'the'center of the spindle orl shifted toy one y sidev or the other of thev slot.V A pointer 65 is rigidly connected kto the tilting plate and 'f extends upwardlythrough a'slot 66 inthe coverV plate-.12V so that this is visible in the top and may 'be felt' with theV Ylingervin the dark to indicate the position of the switch. 4

disconnecting'the wings of `the"knielike blades from the soeketsfl which are ofrefsil-V ent or spring-likerl'rature. kThe action forces the tilting plate downwardlyfuntil the opposite pair of sockets are engaged b the oppoi site blades ont-he tilting arm andYin-this aetionthedo yoscllates onits ivot, the oppositesideo the dogfpas'singtihrough theslot 3.- y ,f n c `."*Wlien thefbutton isr released, the 'spring ported by albolt 63 which ex- The manner of operation and functioning fil forces the.stemoutwardly carrying the dog npwardli which remains in a tilted position due lto its irictional httingin the slot il of the stem and on the pivot 4:8, so that the Vside which is be-low the tilting plate lifts through theslot 53 without Contact with the tilting plate; hence without shitting the dog. ln its uppermost position the dog is again leveled or centered, as shown in Fig. 4;.

The spring 62 vacting on the arm 57 acts as a toggle device anu when the holt 63 is centered in the slot 64, the pressure of the spring tends to keep the tilting plate in the position to which it has been shirted. rfliereiore, the

. switch remains in this position unt-il the next inward movement ot the stem, which action reverses the position of the dog to accommodate it to the position ot' the tilted plate, and on the further inward movement of the stem tilts the tilting plate hack to the position r.; connecting electrically to one of the lower sockets 23 and the other to the upper socket Q3 on the opposite side, leaving the other two sockets as dummies, without any electrical connection. It, however, l; wish to yhavethe switch function as a single pole, double throw switch, each of the sockets 23 will he connected to electric leads, these being attached to dianietrically opposite sockets. Also, it desired, l may make the switch into a three-way switch by forming a connection between one otl the upper sockets and. one or" the lower sockets on the same side of the switch.

it it is desired to have the switch operate as a releasing switch, that is, to release or ropen the circuit immediately ai'ter releasing the button, the bolt 63 is shifted in the slot (Si towards one end or the other of such slot, in accordance with the electrical connection. Then when the stem is pressed downwardly, the tilting plate is shitted into position on the incline, forming a connection which has the conducting element 55 and on release oi the hutten, the spring 62 Jforces the tilting plate hack into its original position.

ln Fig. 5 l show an electrically controlled arrangement for operating the switch. ln this case the switch is designated generally by the numeral 7() and electro-magnetic device by the numeral 7i. A post 72 supports a lever 73 which has an armature 74 thereon, this lever being normally tilted upwardly by the tension spring 7 attached to the end of the arm, and to the base 76. The arm has an adjustable set-screw 77 at its free end f which engages with the button 38 and thrusts the stem inwardly when the electromagnetic device 7l is energized. This construction gives a remote cont-rol of the switch which may be utilized for many purposes, as momentarily energizing the electro-niagneticv .from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

l claim:

l. An electric switch comprising a structure having fixed contacts, a pivotally mounted substantially fiat plate thereon having movable contacts to engage with the lined contacts, said plate having a. slot therein, a slidably mounted stem extending through the slot and having a dofr pivotally mounted directly thereon, said dog engaging the plate whenV tilted in one position and on the moveor breaking a connection hetween the lined and movable. contacts, said dog passing partly through the said slot in the plate.

2. ln the art described, the combination ot astructure having fixed contacts, a pivotally mounted substantially ilat plate having movable contacts thereon to engage with the fixed contacts, said plate having a slot therein, a slidahly mounted stem extending through the said slot, said stem having a transverse slottherein with a dog pivoted directly in the latter slot, said dog having a lower edge to engage the tilted plate and tilt the dog on inward movement of the stem and tilt said platev from one inclination to the opposite inclination, the slot in the plate and the dog being constructed to form a clearance on the returnmovement oi the stem, said dog passing partly through the said slot in the plate.

3. In the art described, as claimed in claim 2, and a stop plate mounted in the iii-red strncture to shift the dog from a tilted position to a transverse position in relation to the stem on the outward movement ot the stem.

4i. ln the art described, the combination of a fixed structure having liked contacts, a pivotally mounted substantiallv tlat plate having moving contacts to engage with they iixed contacts, a stem, a dog pivotally mounted directly thereon, said dog engaging the plate when inclined and tilting the plate to the opposite inclination on the inward movement of the stem, said movement also tilting the dog, and means on the return movement 0l the stem to move the dog trom the tilted to a transverse position relative to the stem.

5. A switch having a fixed structure with liked contacts, a pivotally mounted plate with moving contacts, said plate having a slot therein, a stem slidably movable through the slot and having a dog pivotally mountedv directly thereon, such dog engaging the tilting plate on thenward movement of the stem .85 ment ot the stem in oneposition tilting the yplate into another position, thereby making Y V,and tilting said plate Yfromene inclinationlto vth'elvopp'osite inclination, said movement also ,tilting the dog, and a stop plate to engage the l dog on the outward movement of the stem c to a uniform feo and shift vthel dog from an inclined position transverse position relative to thestem. Y' Y' 6i A switch comprising in combination a f xed structure havin-g fixed contacts, a pivotally mounted substantially fiat plate having moving contacts, a stem slidable in relation to the pivoted plate, said stem'having a dog pivotally connected directly thereto, the

Vcontacts being engaged when the yplateis tilted, the lower edge of the dog engaging the upper part of the tilted plate and tilting the thefopeningin Ythe platina dog pivotally *Y Y mounted onv the stem to engage V'the plate and tilt samefrom one inclinationto the opposite inclination, one of the said plates having a dog on the inward movement of the stem and Ytilting said' plate to an opposite inclination, the dog having an upper edge contacting with part ofthe stem in such movement, and means f to return the stem'to its original position.

7. VA switch as claimed in claim 6, the dog passing partly through a slot in the plate and the side edges ofthe dog heilig shaped to pass free ofthe plate yon the upward movement Y ofthe stem, and means to shift the plate from a tilted to a straight transverse' position. n

Y 8.v A switch comprising in combination a Y V fixed structure having a plurality otpiixed contacts, a pivotally mounted plate having an Yopening therein and moving contacts, a stem slidablyfmo'unted throughthe opening inthe platehaving atransverse slota dog pivotally mounted in said slot, said dog having a flat base, a 'concave curve on the upper dog contacting with the upper part of the plate When tiltedon the inwardimovement of y Y geo the stem and tilting said plate toda reverse position, the said dog also tilting-into aV reing the yplate at the opening in such movement, means to return the stem to its original position, and means to shift the dog from' a tilted to a'directly transverse position relative to the stein. f

edge, concave curves on the sidevedges, said verse position, the sideedges of the dog clears .y 9. yA switch Ahaving a fixed structurefwith Y a plurality of `[ined contacts, a pivotally mounted plate having moving contacts, a spring andan yarm forming' a toggle connection'between a fixed structure and a plate,

*and meansto shift the spring relative to said fixed structure, a slidably mounted stem having a dog pivotally mounted directly thereon to engage the plate and tilt the plate from one direction to the other on the movement vof the stem in onedirection.` f

10. A switch comprising incoinbination a a tramehavinga pair of` side plates, aplu'rality o'f fixed contacts secu'redto the frame, a plate lpivotally mounted in the side plates and h'aving an opening therethrough, moving contacts attached toy said plate, asteln slidably munt-ed 'in the Aframe and 'extending through 

